Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
The Prince Rupert Hotel for the Homeless by Christina Lamb review – bed, breakfast and respect
Hephzibah Anderson The Guardian (No paywall)This insightful account of a four-star establishment taking in rough sleepers amid the pandemic finds grounds for real if slender hope. ... As Lamb writes of the Prince Rupert staff, the experience transformed them: “All would look at the homeless differently now, having learned how so many had been made to feel like throwaway children, beaten, abused and left to think themselves worthless.”
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/13/the-prince-rupert-…
# Must read International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Homelessness.Dominic Perrottet says he needs federal help to scrap stamp duty in NSW
Ruby Cornish ABC (No paywall)NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says his party wants to scrap stamp duty for property purchasers but cannot act without the support of the federal government. Mr Perrottet has long supported phasing out the one-off government fee in favour of an annual broad-based land tax. In a government proposal published in June last year, the then-treasurer wrote that the move would stimulate home ownership, grow the economy and boost the annual incomes of NSW residents "by more than $10 billion". "I believe stamp duty is the worst tax that any government can have," Mr Perrottet said. "It is a massive impediment for people getting into the housing market." Also, read Tom Rabe's article entitled: 'Perrottet says NSW stamp duty overhaul dependent on federal support' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/perrottet-says-nsw-stamp-duty-overhaul-dependent-on-federal-support-20220613-p5atbo.html]. Read Michael McGowan's and Tamsin Rose's article entitled: 'Dominic Perrottet to seek federal backing to scrap NSW stamp duty' in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/13/dominic-perrottet-to-seek-federal-backing-to-scrap-nsw-stamp-duty]. Read Rachel Clun's article entitled: 'Stamp duty move puts pressure on other states' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stamp-duty-move-puts-pressure-on-other-states-20220613-p5ataj.html]. And, read the Editorial entitled: 'Good riddance to stamp duty: now for an optimal switch to a land tax' in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' at: [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/good-riddance-to-stamp-duty-now-for-an-optimal-switch-to-a-land-tax-20220613-p5atch.html]
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-13/dominic-perrottet-keen-to…
# NSW, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Tax.Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe warns it is unclear how high interest rates will go
Leigh Sales and James Glenday ABC (No paywall)The Reserve Bank governor has warned Australians they need to be prepared for substantial interest rate rises over the rest of this year, conceding he is not sure how high they might go. ... How fast we get to 2.5 per cent, indeed whether we get to 2.5 per cent, is going to be determined by events." Under such a scenario, a family with a million-dollar mortgage would likely have to pay more than $1,000 a month more than they were a few weeks ago.
The RBA governor conceded some families were already struggling to make ends meet and would find the increase in repayments tough. Also, read Colin Brinsden's article entitled: 'Expect higher interest rates, says RBA’s Lowe' in 'The New daily' at: [https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/property/2022/06/14/decisive-rate-rise-needed-rba-lowe/]
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/rba-governor-warns-it-is-…
# Australia, Families, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market.Brisbane to charge Airbnb hosts higher council rates to tackle housing availability
Eden Gillespie The Guardian (No paywall)Brisbane homeowners who list their properties as short-term accommodation on sites like Airbnb will be slugged with a 50% rates hike amid a chronic shortage of rental properties.
Handing down the city’s $4bn budget on Wednesday, the LNP lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, said a new “transitory accommodation” category will help tackle housing availability and affordability in Australia’s fastest growing capital city. Schrinner said the 50% rate increase would mean a property on Brisbane’s minimum rating category would pay $600 extra a year, providing an incentive to landlords to rent their property to longer term tenants. ... The executive director of Q Shelter, Fiona Caniglia, welcomed the rate increase. “We need to incentivise the return of these properties to the private rental market so more people can find a home,” she said. “It is a great example of local government demonstrating commitment and practical solutions to the housing crisis.” Also, read Alicia Nally's and Lucy Stone's article entitled: 'Brisbane City Council Airbnb rate hike draws mixed responses during housing crisis' on the ABC at: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-16/brisbane-city-council-airbnb-rates-increase-housing-crisis-react/101156696]
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/15/brisbane-…
# New policy announcement Australia, Rent, Local Government, Short-term holiday letting, Tax.$400 million to empower Aboriginal communities and deliver outcomes
NSW Government Media Release (No paywall)The NSW Government has announced $401 million in additional funding over four years in the 2022-23 Budget, to prioritise Closing the Gap and other projects that improve outcomes for Aboriginal people across the state. ... [Premier Dominic Perrottet said:] “These initiatives span areas like improving cancer care pathways for Aboriginal people, boosting the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation sector to support empowerment, and support for Aboriginal community housing providers.”
https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/400-million-to-empower-abo…
# NSW, Aboriginal renters, Public and community housing, Health, Race and ethnicity.A merry-go-round of buck-passing’: inside the four-year Grenfell inquiry
Robert Booth The Guardian (No paywall)Five years after the fire that killed 72, the inquiry is nearing a close. Over 300 days of evidence, what have we learned about the failings that led to disaster? Also, read Lucie heath's article entitled: 'The Grenfell inquiry revealed shocking failures – five years on, they are far from fixed' in 'The Guardian' at: [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/14/grenfell-inquiry-five-years-72-lives-change]
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/14/a-merry-go-round…
# International, Public and community housing, Asbestos, lead, hazardous materials, Minimum habitability standards.Thousands still waiting for rental relief after floods destroyed paperwork
Tom Rabe The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Less than 10 per cent of a $250 million rental support fund has been distributed to NSW flood victims months after the natural disaster swept through the state’s north. A parliamentary inquiry into the deadly February flooding disaster heard more than 3000 people are still waiting for the rental support payment despite the program set to end in less than two weeks. Opposition environment spokeswoman Penny Sharpe said many flood victims were unable to produce key documentation required to access the government cash because their possessions were swept away by floodwaters.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/thousands-still-waiting-for-…
# NSW, Rent, State Government.Twenty-five years after The Castle the Australian dream is well and truly dead
Gareth Bryant The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Twenty-five years ago, a low-budget film shot in less than a fortnight captured the hearts and imaginations of Australia. With its sympathetic portrayal of suburban family life, a classic David v Goliath narrative of justice prevailing over corporate greed, and plenty of ever-quotable one-liners, The Castle has maintained a timeless “vibe”. In 2010, the film was voted as the best expression of Australian identity, which makes sense when you consider The Castle is a love letter to the Australian dream of home ownership. ... Two years after the release of The Castle, the Howard government established Australia’s pro-property investor tax regime, which helped lock future Darryls and Sals out of home ownership. The introduction of a 50 per cent discount on capital gains tax combined with negative gearing to supercharge Australian house prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/twenty-five-years-after-th…
# Australia, History, Home ownership, Tax.